Golfer&#39;s foot holding device

ABSTRACT

A GOLFER&#39;&#39;S FOOT HOLDING DEVICE CONSISTING OF AN ELONGATED PLIABLE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED ABOUT THE GOLFER&#39;&#39;S LEAD FOOT AND HAVING A SPKIE ATTACHED TO A FOLDED MIDPORTION THEREOF FOR SECURING TE DEVICE TO THE GROUND WHEREBY THE GOLFER&#39;&#39;S FOOT IS HELD IN POSITION WHILE HE IS PERMITTED TO SHIFT HIS WEIGHT AND LIFT HIS HEEL IN EXECUTING A PROPER GOLF SWING. A PAIR OF WASHERS DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HEAD OF THE SPIKE ARE SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE FOLDED MIDPORTION AND A PLIABLE SECURING MEMBER.

' Sept. 20.; 1971 :14. v. HONBARGER 3,605,341

GOLFER'S FOOT HOLDING DEVICE I Filqd Feb. 20, 1970 lNVE/VTOR Harlon v. Honborger Y Y I v A T TOR/YE Y United States Patent 3,606,341 GOLFERS FOOT HOLDING DEVICE Harlan V. Honbarger, Miami, Fla.

(2350 NW. 81 Ave., Sunrise Golf, Valley, Fla. 33313) Filed Feb. 20, 1970, Ser- No. 13,048 Int. Cl. A63f 69/36 US. Cl. 273-188R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to golfing equipment and is more particularly directed to a golfers foot holding device for improving his golfing swing.

It is well established that in the course of a complete golf swing, the golfers feet should not leave their positions on the ground though the heels are lifted during the course of the swing. In the back swing, as the right handed golfer pivots, his left knee becomes flexed with his right heel lifted slightly off the ground the weight of the body properly balanced on the right leg. During the down or forward swing, the right knee becomes flexed transferring the weight to the left leg at impact during the follow through as right knee becomes flexed and the right heel lifted slightly off the ground.

The golfer with the faulty swing that results in a slice usually sways and fails to shift his weight properly to the forward foot because of his inability to keep the forward or lead foot contained in one position on the ground on the forward swing. The present invention contemplates the containing of the forward foot by this device during the complete swing of a golfer to prevent sway and improper weight shifting that normally result in a bad golf shot.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a golfers foot holding device which contains the golfers forward foot during a golf swing yet permits the proper lifting of his heel and shifting of his weight as required in a good golf swing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive golfers foot holding device that is readily attached to the ground and ones foot and during the golf swing produces the function desired without hampering the proper movement of the foot.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a golfers foot holding device for improving his golfing swing wherein the device is used until muscle memory in the proper swing is enhanced to the condition when further use of the device is no longer necessary.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic View of a golfer using my foot holding device and the golfer being shown at the top of his back swing.

FIG. 2 is similar view of the golfer at the end of his golf swing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my foot holding device with a shoe shown in position in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View of my golfers foot holding device.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to my foot holding or containing device shown in position on a golfers leading foot that is on the left foot for a right handed golfer as indicated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive.

My foot holding device 10 consists of an elongated pliable member 11 of one-way stretch material which stretches in the direction of its length. The elongated member 11 is folded on itself at approximately its midportion as at 14 with both layers in contact with each other for a short distance. A spike 12 having a head 22 extends through an opening in a lower washer 13 with a second or upper washer 13 placed on top of the head 22 whereby the head 22 of the spike 12 is contained between the washers 13, 13. The spike 12 with the washers 13, 13 positioned as aforementioned is now inserted through an opening formed in the center of a rectangular portion of fabric 23 which is sewn about its periphery 15 to the lower surface of the fabric member 11.

At the end portions 17, 18 of the elongated member 11 are plastic fastening members 19, 20 known as Velcro. Both fastening members 19 and 20 are sewn to the lower surfaces of the elongated member 11 so that they will face each other and become engaged to form a shoe containing loop 25 as shown by FIG. 4 when my foot containing device 10 is in use as is explained hereinafter. It is to be noted that any fabric fastening devices may be used in lieu of Velcro such as snap hooks, hook and eyes and even tapes for tying the end portions 17 and 18 together. However, it has been noted that the use of Velcro in my foot holding device 10 is ideal for the purposes desired, in that the Velcro fasteners 17, 18 may be readily attached together or separated and the loop 25 formed to contain the shoe of the golfer may be tightly formed about a shoe of any size so as to be readily adjustable.

In the normal use of my device 10, the golfer addresses a golf ball in the usual manner to determine the approximate location of his left foot. He then inserts the spike 12 into the ground at that location lays that portion of the elongated member 10 having end portion 18 on the ground and places his leading foot thereon. He then wraps both portions of the elongated member 10 about his shoe and presses the Velcro fasteners together to form a tight loop about the shoe. Now as he swings his club, the leading foot is prevented from leaving the spot in which it rested at the address, yet in his back swing, he is able to lift the heel of that foot and in his down swing, he is able to shift his weight to that foot in his follow through as required in a proper swing. Upon continued use of my device 10, his muscles will acquire a memory so that in time he can discard the device 10 and swing properly without moving his leading foot in his down swing and follow through which can only result in a bad shot.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A golfers foot holding device comprising an elongated pliable member folded upon itself at substantially its midportion and defining folded portions in direct contact with each other for a relatively short distance adjacent said midportion, a spike having a head portion, means securing said head portion of said spike to said folded portions and extending in a direction away from said folded portions and fastening means mounted at the free ends of said elongated member whereby a golfer may insert said spike in the ground, extend said free ends of said elongated member about his foot and fasten said free ends together for containing his foot by said device during his golfing swing.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said fastening means are mounted along the lower side of each of said free ends whereby upon forming a foot retaining loop said fastening means adjustably engage each other.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 taken in combination with a pair of washers, one of said washers having a bore receiving said spike and positioned adjacent said head portion, said second washer lying on said head 4 portion, said second washer engaging said folded portions, a further pliable member, said spike extending through said further pliable member and means securing said further pliable member to said folded portions and containing therebetween said washers and said head portion of said spike.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,711,320 6/1955 Clark 273188R 3,160,143 12/1964 Gray 272 s0X 3,423,094 1/1969 Auslander et al. 273-187R GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27257D 

